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WJTN News Headlines for Mar. 29, 2019

The jury in the second-degree murder trial of Jamestown's David Waggoner has found him guilty in last July's shooting death of another man during an argument on the city's westside.....  

Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says the 12-member panel returned the verdict after about an hour-and-a-half's deliberation Thursday morning in Mayville.  Swanson says the jury fully considered the evidence, even though the defense tried to make the case that Waggoner acted in self-defense against 30 year-old William Mishishima.

Swanson says the jury deliberated for about two-hours Wednesday after he and Public Defender Ned Barone made their closing arguments.  The incident occured in front of 114 Livingston Avenue about 9 AM last July 24th.  Mischishima died the next day in an Erie, Pennsylvania hospital.  Swanson says Waggoner faces a determinate sentence of 15 years to life, to 25 years to life in state prison.  The jury also considered a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter.  He says he'll press for the maximum when Waggoner is sentenced in County Court next June 10th.


A Jamestown man -- found in possession of two weapons and drugs this past Tuesday -- is now facing another felony charge......  

Chautauqua County Sheriff's Officers were called to a location in Mayville Tuesday evening and, found that 19 year-old Randall Mesler, Junior was in possession of an illegal stun gun.  Deputies say Mesler was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and is being held pending arraignment.  Mesler was arrested by Jamestown Police earlier in the day near Columbia Avenue and Myrtle Street with a CO2 BB-Gun, switchblade knife, heroin in individual packages, 1.6-grams of methamphetamine and, drug paraphernalia.  


Chautauqua County's Congressman feels that President Trump has been "completely exonerated" in the final report on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election....  

At the same time, Corning Republican Tom Reed believes that as much of the final report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller should be released as possible.  Reed also feels that it's time for Democrats to "move on..." and, start dealing with the real issues that face America.

While several Republicans have said the Special Counsel's report fully exonerates Trump on the issue of Russian collusion and obstruction of justice, many Democrats have said "hold on..." we want to see the final report.  Reed was among the members of Congress who recently voted to release as much of the Special Counsel's report as possible.  But, he also says Congress should look more closely at what triggered the two-year investigation to begin with.  Some Republicans have called for investigating and prosecuting anyone involved in starting and continuing the probe.  Reed says he would only like to see what originated the Special Counsel's probe.


The perennial debate over how much New York spends on public schools has returned to Albany as lawmakers and Governor Andrew Cuomo work to craft a new state budget before Monday's deadline.... 

Several Democratic lawmakers joined dozens of parents and education advocates Thursday for an education finance protest outside Cuomo's office.  Cuomo has proposed $956-million in new education funding for a total of $27.7-billion.  Those at Thursday's protest want an additional $1.2-billion in order to comply with court rulings that found the state was underfunding public schools.  Education spending makes up the largest share of the budget and is often among the thorniest issues to resolve in the budget.  Other items considered for the budget include new vehicle tolls in Manhattan and a statewide plastic bag ban.


Chautauqua County lawmakers by a 12-4 vote approved a resolution Wednesday night that allows the county shell out $20,000 to help pay for a feasibility study on a hops and barley economic development project....  

Legislators John Hemmer, John Davis, Frank Gould and Daniel Pavlock all voted against the measure.  County Executive George Borrello says the study will determine if the project can move forward.

A developer has agreed to fund half of the study with other funding coming from several foundations.
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The county legislature also joined County Executive George Borrello in signing the Memorandum of Agreement for a Chautauqua Lake Weed Management Consensus Strategy. Legislators approved an emergency resolution, 16-to-nothing, backing the agreement that was unveiled earlier on Wednesday.  Borrello is pleased to the have the legislature on board and says he is getting some positive feedback about the weed management plan.

The plan, released during a news conference on Wednesday, includes 24 tenets for dealing with everything from limited use of herbicides to protecting fish habitats and drinking water.  Borrello hopes that all lake agencies and organizations, as well as the municipalities located around Chautauqua Lake also back the plan.


New York is suing the billionaire family behind OxyContin, alleging the drugmaker fueled the opioid crisis by putting hunger for profits over patient safety.....  

The state on Thursday amended a pending lawsuit against Purdue Pharma to add members of its controlling Sackler family as defendants.  Attorney General Letitia James also expanded the lawsuit to include five other companies that produce opioid painkillers and four distributors.  New York's announcement comes two days after Purdue and the Sacklers agreed to pay $270 million to Oklahoma, the first settlement stemming from a wave of nearly 2,000 lawsuits that the company says could push it into bankruptcy.  New York seeks penalties and damages that could total tens of millions of dollars.  It wants the defendants to endow a fund to curb the epidemic.  Purdue has denied any wrongdoing.


There may be some discolored water in the village of Lakewood and west today after the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Water Division had to repair a main break on Brook Street late yesterday afternoon...  

BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says the break occured between Summit Avenue and Erie Street.  She says water was shut-down until early evening.  Robbins says village customers, and further west, may see discolored water through late morning or afternoon.  She says don't do laundry until your water appears clear.